Spokesperson briefs S Sudan based media on latest developments in Ethiopia

Addis Ababa, February 13, 2021 (FBC) – Spokesperson of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dina Mufti, through virtual press conference, has briefed South Sudan based local and international media on current issues in Ethiopia.

Ambassador Dina addressed the virtual briefing today to 16 local and international media operating in South Sudan.

The video press briefing was organized by Ethiopia’s embassy in South Sudan in line with expounding issues over the Ethiopia-Sudan border dispute, the GERD negotiations, and the situations in the Tigray region.

Regarding the border dispute, Ambassador Dina called on the government of Sudan to stop plundering and displacing Ethiopian citizens that it has started as of November 6 while the Ethiopian government was busy enforcing law and order in Tigray.

The ongoing belligerence exhibited by the Sudanese army against Ethiopia would benefit neither the people of Sudan nor reflect the longstanding relationships that existed between the people of the two countries, he said.

Appreciating all who have offered to mediate the two countries, including South Sudan, Ambassador Dina said the two countries can amicably solve the dispute through existing mechanisms once the Sudanese army evacuates the area that it has forcefully occupied.

He called on the government of Sudan to respect international law and abide by the provisions of the 1972 Exchange of notes between the two countries to maintain the status quo is until an amicable solution is reached between the two countries.

Regarding the GERD negotiations, the observed hiccups by the Sudanese side, particularly over the issue of the dam’s safety is a pretext to hide the real motives that may only benefit third parties, standing against the interests of the people of Sudan who are waiting to reap the scientifically-proven benefits of the dam.

The border dispute has been there for a century and it has got nothing to do either with the construction of the dam or the ongoing negotiations over the GERD, he added.

Clarifying some issues about the law enforcement operation in Tigray, which suffer from disinformation campaigns by some members of the international community and international media outlets, ambassador Dina said the operation was effectively completed and now the government of Ethiopia is busy rehabilitating and reconstructing destroyed infrastructures by the reckless TPLF clique.

He said the number of international agencies who get access to provide aid relief in the region is increasing on daily basis and the federal government, as well as the Interim government in Tigray, are closely working with them to deliver food and non-food items to people who need assistance in this regard.

The media briefing ended following Ambassador Dina’s responses to the questions forwarded by attending journalists.